Playing-hoop.



No. 881,427. PATENTED MAR. 10, 190 8.

-J. e. MARSH; PLAYING 3001 APFLIOATION FILED APR. 3. 1907.

JOSEPH G. MARSH, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

PLAYING-HOOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,185.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. MARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Man- 'chester, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Playing-Hoops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a playing hoop for children and relates more particularly to a propellin or bowling means whereby the hoop can e readily kept in motion and guided.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and readily manipulated for bowling or guiding the hoop.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a propelling or guiding device the device to the hoop and yet permit the hoop to freely roll.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will bemore fully described ereinafter and set forth with particularity in the'appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one of the embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a playing hoop with the propelling and guiding device supplied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof the device detached. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the handle portion of the device. Fig. 4 is an end view thereof, showing the handle in section.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a playing hoop which may be made of wood or wire, as desired, and shown applied thereto in Fig. 1 is the propellin and guiding device, designated generally y2. This device comprises an arc-shaped structure 3 which may be of metal, wood or any other suitable material. In the present instance, the body or structure of the device constitutes a single length of wire bent into the proper shape. On one end of the structure is a loop or r ng 4 that is radially disposed and encircles the hoop to constitute a guiding means through which the hoop freely turns. The opposite end of the structure or body 3 is bent into a pair of inwardly disposed Ushaped bifurcations 5 that are actuated by a connecting portion 6 adapted to extend over the outside of the hoop. The extremity of the wire after being coiled around the body 3 at 7 is bent laterally to form a shank 8 for receiving the handle 9 of the device, the handle being threaded on the shank or otherwise suitably secured. On the connecting portion 6 is a roller 10 that is adapted to engage the periphery of the hoop and on the bifurcations 5 are rollers 1 1 suitably spaced apart to engage the edges of the hoop, the rollers serving to enable the hoop to be readily propelled forwardly by bringing the rollers into contact therewith and imparting a movement to the handle 9 in a forward direction.

In practice, the handle 9 is gripped in one hand by the player and the hoop held in an upright position by means of the device being permanently attached. By bringing the forked or handle end of the device.downwardly into engagement with the hoop, the latter can be propelled forwardly by imparting a quick movement to the handle 9 in a forward and upward direction. The rollers are then disconnected by throwing the handle of the device outwardly and moving the handle downwardly and backwardly into a starting position whereupon the rollers are again brought into engagement and another propelling stroke imparted. It will thus be seen that the hoop can be readily propelled and guided without danger of the hoop falling or running away from the player. It is unnecessary to strike the hoop a blow according to the common practice, since by successively engaging the rollers and imparting adgentle stroke the hoop is steadily proelle p From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention together With the device which I noW consider to be the best embodiment thereof I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made When desired as are Within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a suitably shaped body, a ring at one end loosely engaging around the hoop, hoop engaging means at the opposite end, and a handle adjacent the said means for engaging and disengaging the latter, said means consisting of right angularly disposed rollers.

2. A device of the class described com prising a suitably shaped body, a loop at one end thereof loosely engaging the hoop and serving to permanently connect the body to the hoop, a plurality of rotatable members arranged on said body to engage the periphery and edges of the hoop, and a handle attached to the body.

3. A device of the class described comprising an arcuate structure having a ring at one end loosely engaging the hoop, and having a pair of parallel rollers at the opposite end for engaging the edges of the hoop, a third roller at said opposite end for engaging the periphery of the hoop, and a handle attached to the structure.

4. A device of the class described comprising a single piece wire structure having one end bent into a ring and the opposite end forked and terminating in a shank, a handle on the shank, and a plurality of rollers mounted on the forked portion.

5. A device of the class described com prising a wire bent into connected and U- shaped bifurcations, a handle secured to the wire, parallel rollers on the U-shaped bifurcations and a third roller arranged on the connecting portion between the bifurcations and disposed at right angles to the said pair of rollers.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH G. MARSH.

WVitnesses:

MEDERIO GUILBAULJ, J OHN ONEILL. 

